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Background: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery have a high incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the effect of NAFLD or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) on the weight loss and resolution of obesity-related disorders is a matter of debate., Methods: In this study, we compare the long-term outcomes after bariatric with the presence of NAFLD in the liver biopsy at the time of surgery., Results: The follow-up was available for 226 out of 288 patients. The mean follow-up time was 24.9 (± 13.6) months. The baseline histology showed that 112 patients (38.9%) had no NASH, 70 (24.3%) were borderline, and 106 (36.8%) had NASH. At follow-up, the mean BMI dropped from (52 ± 10.2) to (36.6 ± 8) kg/m 2 . Excess weight loss (EWL) was similar in all NAFLD groups. Type 2 diabetes mellitus dropped from 35.7 to 11.4%, hypertension from 65.6 to 36.7%, hyperlipidemia from 62.3 to 33%, and obstructive sleep apnea from 37.5 to 14.9%. Only hyperlipidemia was significantly associated with NASH compared to the groups with no NASH or borderline NASH (p value = 0.002 and p value = 0.04, respectively) during the first two years of follow-up., Conclusion: The beneficial effects of bariatric surgery are evident across all patients with NAFLD. Patients with NASH have comparable outcomes regarding weight loss and resolution of obesity-related comorbidities., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Bariatric-metabolic surgery (BS) decreases the grade of steatosis, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis in patients with severe obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Mechanisms include substantial weight loss, but also simultaneous effects on glucose homeostasis. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between NAFLD and remission of type 2 diabetes (T2D) up to 8 years following different types of BS., Methods: In a retrospective cohort study including 107 patients with obesity and T2D at baseline, the association between biopsy-proven NAFLD defined as steatosis in > 5% of hepatocytes at the time of surgery and T2D remission up to 8 years following different surgical procedures was investigated. Univariate regression analysis was used to examine the association between NAFLD and remission of T2D., Results: Long-term remission of T2D was present in 56% of patients (n = 60). The presence of low-grade liver steatosis (grade 1) was associated with remission of T2D. Patients with a liver steatosis score ≥ 2 showed higher HbA1c levels at baseline. There were no significant differences in preoperative presence of lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, or fibrosis between patients who achieved T2D remission compared with those with no remission. Type of surgery did not affect remission of T2D., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the presence of low-grade liver steatosis is associated with remission of T2D following sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Therefore, BS should be considered at an early NAFLD stage in patients with T2D., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with an increased prevalence of obesity. It is unknown whether SES influences the outcome after bariatric surgery in Germany. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether the SES is linked with an inferior outcome after bariatric surgery., Methods: We included all patients who underwent bariatric surgery in our university hospital from 2012-2014. Net income was estimated by matching the zip codes of patient residency with the region-specific purchasing power index. We analyzed the relationship between SES, weight loss and remission of comorbidities., Results: We included 559 patients in this study and detected a mean 5-year percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) of 52.3%. We detected a significantly lower initial body mass index (BMI) and weight in patients with a higher income. One year after surgery, we did not find a significant difference. Further analysis revealed that only women with a higher income had a significantly lower BMI and weight 3 and 5 years after surgery., Conclusions: Bariatric surgery is beneficial for all patients regardless of income. Furthermore, we demonstrated that women with high SES have a better outcome after bariatric surgery., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: The diagnosis of major complications seems to be more challenging in obese patients. We aimed to show the relevance of routinely assessed clinical and paraclinical parameters as well as the relevance of CT scans in the diagnosis of major complications after bariatric procedures., Methods: All patients who underwent operations (primary or revisional) in a 3-year period were retrospectively studied after bariatric surgery with a specific focus on the routinely assessed clinical parameters (tachycardia, temperature), paraclinical parameters on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 3 (C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocytes), and additional computed tomography (CT) scan results for the diagnosis of leakage, bleeding, intraabdominal abscess, superficial abscess, and other complications., Results: A total of 587 patients were examined. In this cohort, 73 CT scans were performed due to suspected intraabdominal or pulmonary complication according to our hospital standard operating procedure. In total, 14 patients (2.4%) had a major complication (Clavien-Dindo grade IV/V). Of those, 10 patients (1.7%) had postoperative leakage. While the correct leakage diagnosis was only found in 33% of the patients by CT scan, the overall specificity of CT as a diagnostic tool for all kinds of complications remained high. Especially for abscess detection, CT scan showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly higher risk of leakage development characterized by a doubling of postoperative CRP level (odds ratio 4.84 (95% confidence interval 2.01-11.66, p < 0.001)). To simplify the use of CRP as a predictive factor for the diagnosis of leakage, a cut-off value of 2.4 was determined for the CRP quotient (POD3/POD1) with a sensitivity of 0.88 and a specificity of 0.89., Conclusion: CT diagnostic after bariatric surgery has a high positive predictive value, especially for intraabdominal abscess formation. Nevertheless, CT scan for the diagnosis of leakage has a low sensitivity. Thus, a negative CT scan does not exclude the presence of a leakage. Using the described CRP quotient with a cut-off of 2.4, the risk of early leakage can be easily estimated. Furthermore, in any uncertain case of clinically suspected leakage, diagnostic laparoscopy should be performed.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of coaching on outcome in low volume centers of excellence and to evaluate the influence of mentorship programs on the center development., Background: The number of bariatric procedures has increased steadily in the last years. Providing nationwide bariatric care on a high professional level needs structures to train and guide upcoming centers and ensure high quality in patient care., Methods: A prospective multicentered, observational study including laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedures was performed. Twelve emerging bariatric centers were coached by five experienced bariatric centers. Surgeons of the mentor centers gave guidance on pre- and postsurgical management of their patients including complications and proctored the first interventions. The results were compared regarding operative outcomes, percentage of excess weight loss, complications, and resolution of comorbidities., Results: A total of 214 of 293 patients (73.0%) completed the study. The most frequently reported complications were wound infection (4.4%), disorder of emptying stomach/new reflux (2.4%), anastomotic leaks, intra-abdominal secondary hemorrhage, and dumping syndrome (2.0% each). The mortality rate was zero. We found no difference in overall complication rates or resolution of obesity-related comorbidities when comparing experienced surgeons with less experienced surgeons., Conclusions: Our results suggest that under the conditions of the practices of this study, coaching and mentoring were associated with comparable outcomes both in experienced and emerging centers. In addition, mentorship programs ensure equal outcome quality in terms of improvement of obesity-associated comorbidities., Trial Registration: NCT Number: NCT01754194 .

Background: Prevalence of obesity is increasing with a pandemic magnitude worldwide. Incidence of super-super-obesity (> 60 kg/m 2 ) is expanding by the same means. While bariatric surgery is the only approach with proven long-term results, surgical outcome in super-super-obesity is still discussed controversially., Objective: This retrospective study examined bariatric surgery patients' short-term outcome in relation to their degree of obesity., Setting: Data collection was performed in a German university medical center between March 2010 and November 2013., Methods: This study analyzes a cohort of 715 patients in a single institution. Patients were subdivided into three groups, obese (≤ 49.9 kg/m 2 ), super-obese (≥ 50 kg/m 2 ), and super-super-obese (≥ 60 kg/m 2 ), and evaluated regarding perioperative outcome., Results: Three hundred eighty-one patients were included into obese (O); 225 patients, into super-obese (SO); and 109 patients, into super-super-obese (SSO) cohort. There were no significant differences regarding patient characteristics including quantity of comorbidities and perioperative outcome. BMI was significantly lower in patients with complications, compared to patients without complications (p < 0.05), whereas patients' age was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in complication cohort. One SSO patient died of a septic multiorgan failure. Thus, the 30-day overall mortality was 0.14%. The BMI showed an inverse correlation to the patients' age at surgery (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Super-super-obesity should not be considered as a limiting factor for bariatric surgery outcome; however, the patients' age, surgeries prior to the bariatric procedure, and comorbidities must be considered prior to bariatric surgical treatment.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal pathologies are common in bariatric patients. Preoperative esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy (EGD) should detect and treat pathologies that might alter the type of bariatric surgery. However, clinical consequences of these findings are often insignificant. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of preoperative endoscopy in our cohort and its clinical consequences., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of endoscopic findings in patients under evaluation for bariatric surgery. Endoscopic findings were compared to preoperative risk factors as well as postoperative complications, and its clinical consequences were analyzed., Results: Data was available for 801 patients. Abnormal endoscopic findings were found in 65.7% of all patients. The most common conditions were gastritis (32.1%) and gastroesophageal reflux (24.8%). Malignancies were observed in 0.5% of all patients. We observed early-stage adenocarcinoma of the esophagus in two patients through our routine preoperative evaluation. Helicobacter pylori infections were detected in preoperative biopsies in only 3.7% of all patients. Patients who reported reflux symptoms had a higher rate of pathological EGDs (74.2 vs. 64.9%, p .019). We did not find any other risk factors for a pathological endoscopy. The postoperative complication rate was 11.2%. Leakage rate was 1.1%. Mortality rate was 0.4%. We did not find any correlation between the incidence of postoperative complications and preoperative endoscopic findings., Conclusions: Relevant findings in routine preoperative endoscopy are rare but have significant influence on decision-making in bariatric patients and should be assessed as a necessary diagnostic tool.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in morbidly obese patients and evaluate the influence on perioperative complications., Background: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery have a high incidence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Upcoming data indicates that liver disease has a significant effect on perioperative complications. However, the influence of NAFLD/NASH on perioperative outcome in bariatric patients is still controversial., Methods: We identified a total of 302 patients with concomitant liver biopsies, while performing either laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Liver biopsy was performed in case of abnormal liver appearance at time of bariatric surgery. Histological results were compared to perioperative complication rate., Results: NAFLD is common in our patient cohort. Abnormal findings in liver histology were found in 82.3 % of our patients. Liver cirrhosis was newly diagnosed in 12 patients (4 %). There were no complications due to liver biopsy. The mortality rate was 0.3 %, leakage rate was 1 %, and postoperative bleeding occurred in 3.3 %. Pulmonary complications were observed in 1.7 % and cardiovascular complications in 1.3 %. One patient developed portal vein thrombosis and one patient acute pancreatitis; both were treated conservatively. No patient had postoperative liver failure. We found no association between histological findings and perioperative outcomes., Conclusions: The prevalence of NAFLD among morbidly obese surgical patients was high, although this condition was not associated with increased risk for postoperative complications. Because of unexpected findings in intraoperative liver biopsies, the routine indication of liver biopsies in patients at high risk for liver disease should be discussed.